Rioja Baja is a sub-region of the Rioja wine region in northern Spain. It forms the largest portion of the region, and accounts for 40% of its wine output. It extends southeast of the provincial capital, Logrono, to the small town of Alfaro, and is housed mostly within the La Rioja autonomous community, although it creeps into Navarra in parts. Most of its vineyards are located south of the Ebro River.
Unlike its neighbors Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, the Rioja Baja region has very dry and warm summers (temperatures of 95F/35C are not uncommon), a result of the influence of the Mediterranean Sea. The soils also differ significantly from those in its neighbors; the chalk content is minimal, with larger proportions of silt and alluvial components as well as ferrous-clay. Drought is also a real threat.
The low-altitude vineyards were once mostly planted with Garnacha vines, which were regarded as being best suited to the extreme conditions, producing wines high in alcohol but low in acidity and aroma profile. As these grapes routinely reached full ripeness, they were suitable for blending with the Tempranillo wines produced in Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa. The aim was to add body rather than character to their cooler-climate wines. In the 1980s, however, many of these old Garnacha vines were pulled out in favor of the more-marketable Tempranillo, but now producers are slowly realizing the benefits of Garnacha in Rioja wines and are replanting the variety.
The flatter terrain of Rioja Baja, along with its climatic conditions, makes it a less important wine region than Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa in terms of quality, despite its output.
The local wine industry is largely based on co-operatives. Many of the top Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa wineries have vineyards or long-term arrangements with growers in Rioja Baja as insurance against bad vintages.
